Knock, knock.

  “Come in,” Seven’s calm voice carried through the room. The door eased open to reveal Kasra entering, his stride confident. Lara trailed a few steps behind him.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Kasra’s greeting was smooth as silk. The occupants in the ward responded in unison, their greetings filling the air with warmth.

  Kasra approached Seven, holding a familiar-looking backpack with a casual posture that belied the importance of its contents. “Seven, Kate packed your stuff,” he murmured, handing it over. “I’m just the courier. She’ll swing by later.”

  Seven nodded gratefully as he took the backpack. “Thanks, Kasra. You guys can catch up while I take a quick shower. I’ll be out soon with an update.”

  “Take your time. Dad’s covering for me at Dynamics Group for now.” Kasra gave a nonchalant wave, as if the weight of an empire could wait.

  Seven grabbed his clothes and towel and disappeared into the ensuite. The sound of running water quickly followed, creating a soft backdrop of calm that contrasted with the emotions lingering in the room.

  Kasra turned to Esme, his expression softening as he took in her tired but determined face. “Esme, how you holdin’ up?”

  “I was a mess at first,” she admitted, her tone fragile. “But thank God he’s alive, and knowing Seven’s got his back, it’s like a boulder has been lifted.

  “We’ll move to The Cliffs; I believe it’s important for the kids to be with their father, even if he can’t actively engage with them. This experience will teach them empathy.”

  Relief washed over Kasra. “My parents will be over the moon. Did James tell you? They want to be god-grandparents to your little tykes.”

  A chuckle escaped Esme’s throat. “Yes, he did. Your mom’s too young to be a grandmother, though.”

  Kasra let out a snicker. “That’s Mom for you. But with the god-grandkids around, it’ll take the heat off me!”

  Esme and James exchanged knowing glances, shaking their heads and laughing, the warmth of shared humor lightening the taut atmosphere.

  Then, catching a glimpse of his sister, Kasra excused himself. “Alright, I’d better check on Princess before she throws a hissy fit,” he said playfully.

  Sana squinted, like a cat ready to pounce. “Kas, I wouldn’t dare throw a tantrum, but am I at the bottom of your priority list?”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Catching on to her antics, he smirked. “Last on my list? I’ve put everything on hold for you, rounded up everyone to investigate the case, and here you are, questioning my priorities.” He looked amused, but there was a hint of exasperation. “What do you want? Tell your favorite brother.”

  Sana giggled giddily, her eyes sparkling with challenge. “Hmm... what if I needed a kidney?”

  Kasra laughed and affectionately tapped her on the nose. “I’d hand it over in a heartbeat! But something tells me that’s not it. Come on, just spill already.”

  Sana shifted in the bed, a sheepish edge creeping into her voice. “Kas... can you talk Seven into letting me take a shower?”

  Kasra’s brow furrowed. “Did you ask him before?”

  “Y–Yes… but he said no,” she stammered.

  “And you think I can change his mind?” Kasra replied, slightly incredulous. “If he said no, he’d have a reason.”

  Sana huffed, her lips pursed into a pout. “Tsk! I knew you wouldn’t help. Fine! I’ll ask him again myself!”

  Kasra sighed, shaking his head, feeling as if he were talking to a brick wall. “If you couldn’t change his mind before, what makes you think I can? But sure, give it another shot. Maybe this time your charm will work.”

  At that moment, Seven stepped out of the bathroom, his hair damp, a towel draped over his shoulders. He immediately caught the tension between the siblings. “Sana, why this look? Something wrong?”

  Caught off guard, Sana batted her lashes, fumbling for words. “N–Nothing! Just... I asked my brother for a favor, but he shot me down.”

  Seven’s gaze softened as he crouched beside her bed. “And what’s the favor? Maybe I can help.”

  Sana bit her lip, weighing her thoughts before finally confessing. “I just want to take a proper shower. I feel gross, even with the sponge baths.”

  Seven’s lips twitched with amusement, though he fully understood patient discomfort. “I see. Well, here’s the thing: you haven’t moved your bowels yet. If I remove the catheter just for a shower, I’d have to keep running you to the bathroom whenever you need to. Any big movements could risk further injury.”

  Sana sighed, her frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior. “Fine, fine, say no more. I get it.”

  Kasra, ever the doting brother, stepped in. “Seven, could you remove the catheter, let her shower, and put in a new one afterward?”

  Seven’s expression remained even, but there was a tinge of hesitation behind his words. “I could but catheter insertion is usually done when the patient’s under anesthesia. If we reinsert it while she’s awake, it could be quite painful. Not impossible, but uncomfortable.”

  Sana’s face twisted, caught between the desire for normalcy and the reality of her situation.

  Sensing her conflict, Seven offered, “You can decide, Sana. If you’re okay with it, I’ll do whatever you want.”

  Her silence signaled her resignation, her shoulders sagging in defeat.

  Kasra cleared his throat, steering the conversation in another direction. “Seven, I’d like to take you to The Cliffs before James and Sana are discharged. The wing they’ll stay in was recently renovated, so the furniture isn’t set up yet.”

  Seven agreed without hesitation, appreciating Kasra’s thoughtfulness. “Good idea. When do you want to go?”

  “How about now? Esme’s here and Lara can help Sana catch up on work. We’ll be back in two hours tops.”

  Esme smiled reassuringly from across the room. “We’ve got it covered. Go on.”

  Seven whispered into Sana's ear, “Although Esme is around, if you need to move your bowels while I’m gone, use the bedpan, okay? And if you still want that shower when I get back, I’ll handle the catheter.”

  Sana sighed in defeat.

  He gave her a gentle squeeze on the arm before walking out with Kasra, their footsteps fading as they walked away.